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May 1st is May Day, which is also known as International Workers Day. This holiday recognizes the achievements of the working people and it is celebrated in locales and countries all around the world.
May 1st also marks the anniversary of the beginning of the 1886 nation-wide strike in support of the eight-hour workday. In Chicago, a mass meeting in support of the workers' movement ended tragically with the "Haymarket Massacre" on May 4.
"Over the heads of the capitalist robbers, over the heads of their
predatory governments, we extend a hand to the workers of all countries,
and cry:
Hail the First of May!"
Selection from "The Worker's Maypole" by Walter Crane (1894)
Be ye many or few drawn together,
Let your message be clear on this day;
Be ye birds of the spring, of one feather
In this--that ye sing on May-Day.
Of the new life that still lieth hidden,
Though its shadow is cast before;
The new birth of hope that unbidden
Surely comes, as the sea to the shore.
Stand fast, then, Oh Workers, your ground,
Together pull, strong and united:
Link your hands like a chain the world round,
If you will that your hopes be requited.
When the World's Workers, sisters and brothers,
Shall build, in the new coming years,
A lair house of life--not for others,
For the earth and its fullness is theirs.
If Chris McCoy is preaching the gospel, then brothers and sisters…I’m a believer. His 2006 CD Colder Chicago Sept. Hymns (Beachhouse Records, 2006) is a testament to his abilities as a lyricist and musician. I first heard samples from the album on McCoy’s MySpace page and was immediately reminded of Frank Black’s first solo album…and yes, you’d better believe that is a compliment. The comparison extends beyond songwriting and musicianship into the ethereal smoothness of Chris McCoy’s vocals. Truth be told, somewhere in there you might also hear a latent edge in his singing that is reminiscent of Live’s Ed Kowalczyk.
All of my quasi-esoteric comparisons aside, one of the best compliments I can bestow upon Colder Chicago is that it’s the kind of album that I’d love to fall asleep to. It’s a strange thing to say about a record for sure, but I have an unusual tendency to at least partially gauge an album on what kind of dreams it might evoke when I doze to it. It’s a paradox of sorts as the music of Colder Chicago makes it relatively easy to fade blissfully away while simultaneously bidding me to pay close attention for what the artist might offer up next. McCoy & Co. lay down some surreal tracks in which shimmering guitar work features rather prominently. All this "dreaminess" is not to say that I haven’t given Colder Chicago an attentive listen during my waking hours, mind you. The CD has actually become a staple in my listening repertoire these days. Here’s a side note to all that: The first time I listened to the disc I was driving around with my 6 year-old daughter and it wasn’t long before she was singing along with one of the songs. I don’t think she really nailed the lyrics though, because I distinctly remember her singing about cookies at one point. But she did like what she was hearing, I’m sure of that.
Colder Chicago kicks off with "Awake & Under" which effectively communicates to the first-time listener the great things that lie ahead on this album. The underlying guitar riff has a triumphant feel that seems to unwittingly channel the ghost of Phil Ochs (from some of Phil’s more upbeat tunes). The song features a well-timed break of feedback that would make Thurston Moore proud, splitting the track into a distinctly acoustic introduction and a triumphantly symphonic finish. No doubt this is a fantastic way to start an album as it brilliantly sets the tone for the remaining set. Subsequent tracks like "XXVI” and "No Devil" capture something of a post-Pixies vibe with a pleasant blend of strong, clear leads that are complimented nicely with subtle effects and background melodies.
"Tonight, This All Is Over" is a particularly intriguing track which is built around a tango-like piano ostinato and a gently driven backbeat. It fits well in the overall tapestry of the album while standing out as a unique gem unto itself. Had McCoy and The Gospel released singles for Colder Chicago, "Tonight" would’ve been a nice follow up to "Awake & Under."
"Take Me Home" and "Westgate" round out the collection of 9 tracks on the album and in some respects it’s actually difficult for me to think of these as anything but two distinct parts to one tremendous song. The hypnotic organ/keyboard melody in "Take Me Home" comes to a fitting end as the loop careens into a brief yet noisy coda. Call me crazy but it really does remind me of the "Star Gate" sequence in 2001: A Space Odyssey with "Westgate" representing the other side of an otherworldly journey.
All in all, Colder Chicago Sept. Hymns is an evocative and enjoyable listening experience. With so much to offer, it’s my sincere hope that Chris McCoy and The Gospel will embark on a revival someday soon and add a few more chapters to their scripture of sound.
Purchase individual songs or the complete album through CD Baby.
My interest in Indian cinema was recently rekindled when I found that an Indian/Pakistani grocery store opened less than a mile from our home. Only minutes into my first visit there, I landed an inexpensive DVD of the 1994 movie Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (Who Am I to You?) which was a terrific find as I had wanted to see the film for years. I first became interested in the movie after hearing the song "Maye Ni Maye" on a CD of Lata Mangeshkar's playback hits. The song is, of course, from the Hum Aapke Hain Koun soundtrack and although I had no information regarding the lyrics or context of the song, I have always enjoyed it a great deal. As Hum Aapke Hain Koun remains one of the most successful Bollywood films of all time, I have been curious about it for some time but it's proven difficult to find an affordable copy in years past.
I watched the DVD over the course of three or four nights. It's a very long film (200 minutes) and it's not always easy for me to commit my full attention to reading subtitles for long stretches of time. It's hard to say that my expectations weren't high considering that this film is considered by so many to be a modern-day classic but I usually prefer politically-themed dramas or historical pieces to romantic comedies and this particular movie was certainly the latter.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun is undeniably fun in many respects. The musical numbers are particularly well-staged and entertaining and I was not disappointed to finally see the performance of "Maye Ni Maye" in its entirety. I especially enjoy the percussion and choral arrangements in the song. The segment of the film that features the song "Mausam Ka Jaadu" features some wonderful scenes of what appears to be an agricultural festival set against some rolling fields and a magnificent landscape. Another of my favorite scenes from the movie is part in which the main characters gather in a courtyard to play a game similar to "musical chairs" in which people sit in a circle and pitch a pillow around from person to person while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the pillow is "out" and he or she has to sing a song or recite dialogue from a famous film to entertain the other players. In this scene, the actors perform scenes from Mughal-E-Azam and Sholay (and possibly a few others).
The movie doesn't require a lot of thought and it's not an emotionally trying or taxing experience to endure…at least not for the first two hours, anyway. The better part of the film is basically a celebration of the new marriage of characters Rajesh and Pooja as a romance between Pooja's younger sister Nisha and Rajesh's younger brother Prem simultaneously unfolds. The character development is slow yet steady and it's complimented well by wonderfully orchestrated and choreographed musical interludes.
The main plot twist comes well into the film with the sudden demise of Pooja. I had not read much about the actual plot of the film immediately before watching it, so this development came as a complete shock to me and while it did succeed in grabbing my attention, I was also a bit distracted with the question of why it took so long for such a major development to occur. Pooja's accident and her death happen with less than one hour to go in a film which runs nearly three hours. For this reason, the drive to the film's climax seems unnecessarily rushed and this provides an unfortunate distraction from an otherwise intriguing storyline.
I think there are some cultural differences which also made the film fall slightly short from my perspective. The main thing to remember with this story is that arranged marriages are still an accepted tradition in some parts of the world, including North India which is the setting for Hum Aapke Hain Koun. The marriage between Rajesh and Pooja is arranged but this is tempered with what appears a genuine and mutual appreciation between the two individuals. But later in the film when it is Prem's turn to find a wife, he is asked by Pooja whether or not he prefers to have an arranged marriage or one based on love. His answer is something to the effect that he wants an arranged marriage that is based on love. Again, it seems the filmmakers are trying to put the best face on a multifaceted and relatively controversial issue.
There are some real incidents of overacting throughout the movie (such as some silly, "comedic relief" type segments) that were difficult for me to get used to and I am surprised that there was so much of this in such a highly successful, modern piece of cinema. I am also surprised that with such a large cast, the films soundtrack is basically limited to the performances of two playback singers (Lata Mangeshkar and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam). Despite the greatness of a talent such as Lata, it just seems a like a lot to ask of viewers to accept that with so many actors and actresses performing, their "singing voices" are those of the same two people, over and over again. Finally, with respect to the aforementioned plot twist (note that I have been careful as to not provide too much "spoiler" details in case anyone reading this actually wants to watch the film for himself or herself), it's something of an abrupt deus ex machina which involves Krisna working through the family dog Tuffy to bring everything to a peaceful and happy ending. For the characters, it's all good but from my perspective, I couldn't help but feel a little…unfulfilled. It would have been nicer to see the characters work things out on their own without having to rely upon on divine intervention. That's true for real life too, I suppose.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun is surely a "must see" for anyone who truly enjoys Indian films. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and it's not really comparable to most of the Golden Age Bollywood classics. The movie does have a charm all its own, though, and I'm glad I finally got to see what all the fuss was about.
"Maye Ni Maye" from the film Hum Aapke Hain Kaun..!
They say that when one door closes another one opens…or something like that, anyway. I really have come to hate cliches these days. My locus of control is pretty internal, so I don't really look at life as a series of events that involve a person or "being" doing things for me, whether it's something proverbial or concrete. So because a big project of mine recently folded, I am going to make sure and take a good look at my prospects before I decide which doors to walk through. In the meantime, I've taken advantage of some much-needed down time to revisit some things that make me happy. Here's a short list:
The New Duncan ImperialsSticky (Pravda Records, 2000): Everyone should buy this album. I am a longtime fan of NDI, so I pretty much enjoy the hell out of everything they do. Sticky is completely different animal from their earlier stuff, though. The content is still as riff-heavy and as "balls-out" irreverent as their early material but there are some experimental tracks ("Remove Bones from Face Before Inserting in Bird") and out-and-out silliness ("I Like Carp") mixed in to boot. It's a 30-track masterpiece that might well be appropriately dubbed as NDI's White Album.
Sticky features some of my favorite NDI tracks ever, including "Waste Your Time" and "The Freshman 15." And I've said it before but it bears repeating: "Power Tool" is one of the best rock riffs ever. If I ever get famous in any way whatsoever, I am totally going to do for NDI what Nirvana did for the likes of The Wipers and the Vaselines by telling anyone and everyone about them until they get the popularity and acclaim they deserve.
Bollywood films and playback songs: Last week I was thrilled to find a new Indian and Pakistani grocery store less than 2 miles from our house. The shop has a huge supply of DVDs and during my very first visit there, I scored a cheap copy ofHum Apke Hain Kaunwhich was a big deal because I have been trying to get my hands on this film for some time. Recently I've revisited the films Sholay and Pakeezah as well as listening to a heavy rotation of my favorite Bollywood playback songs from Lata Mangeshkar, Chitrah Singh and others.
Pretty much every chance I get, I am watchingthe trailer for The Legend of Bhagat Singhon YouTube. It's still one of my favorite Indian films of all time and that's partially because the actual story ofBhagat Singhis so compelling by itself but also because Ajay Devaugn portrays Singh so effectively. My only major issue with Santoshi's biopic of Singh is that the musical numbers somehow don't seem to fit well with the story. It's still worth seeing if you're interested in Indian history or revolutionary movements…or both.
One of these days I will put together some notes and reflections on Sukhdev Thapar's 1931 letter to Gandhi. Sukhdev 's correspondence famously brought to light some of the most profound differences between the two major camps in India's independence movement.
Erythrós Press and Media: I am currently working on a complete overhaul ofour site. We've sold a lot of books since our launch in 2008, we're just now covering costs on almost all projects and we're looking at publishing some new titles later this year. Hopefully, I'll be in a good position to finance a new run of flags as we've sold all of our replicas of theSoviet Banner of Victory. Response to the banners as well as the overall reception for Erythrós Press and Media has been overwhelmingly positive.
International Women's Day, as described
byAlexandra Kollontai, began as “a day of international solidarity, and a day
for reviewing the strength and organization of proletarian women.” Established through the determination
of radical activist and organizerClara Zetkinand a resolution adopted at the
International Conference of Working Women the first IWD was marked in
1911. Today, IWD is
commemorated around the world as “a global day
celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past,
present and future.”
In recognition of
International Women’s Day 2010, here are some biographical sketches of some women I admire:
Nadezhda Krupskaya(1869 – 1939)Married to V.I. Lenin, Krupskaya was a very important
revolutionary in her own right, educating and supporting fellow Bolsheviks in
the years leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Suffering through persecution and arrest under
the Tsar, Krupskaya endured the struggle and supported Lenin through the tumult
that would eventually bring the Soviets to power.Krupskaya was an archivist and librarian and did much work
in the establishment of the new Soviet library system following the
revolution.In 1933, she published
Reminiscences of Lenin, a biography of her husband which is often regarded as
one of the best assessments of his life and work. Further Reading:Nadezhda
Krupskaya Internet Archive
Madhubala (1933 – 1969) One
of the most popular actresses of Bollywood’s Golden Age, Madhubala performed in
over 70 films before her untimely death at the age of 36. Her most celebrated part was the lead
role in the epic film Mughal-e-Azam. At the time of her passing, she was
regarded as an icon throughout India and beyond. She remains one of India’s most beloved film
stars to this day.
Ida B. Wells-Barnett(1862 – 1931)Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a
journalist and activist who used her exceptional talents as a writer and a speaker to raise global
awareness
regarding crimes against African-Americans in the South during the
decades
immediately following the Civil War.She wrote extensively on the problem of lynching in the
United States,
beginning with two groundbreaking pamphlets Southern
Horrors: Lynch Law in All
Its Phases, and a A Red Record.She co-founded the NAACP
with W.E.B. DuBois and others
in 1909. Further Reading:Southern
Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases(full text) by Ida
B. Wells-Barnett
Mother TsaiImmortalized
by Agnes Smedley in her article “No Sacrifice…No Victory,” Mother Tsai
was a
leader of women in the “south Yangtze valley” during China’s War of
Resistance
against Japan from 1937 – 1945.Well into her late 60’s, Mother Tsai worked in the fields with
her
daughters-in-law while her sons fought in the guerilla armies against
the
Japanese invaders.She was an
important member of the Women’s Association, delivering inspirational
political
speeches to to wounded soldiers as they convalesced in hospital wards.She mounted aggressive campaigns
against opium use and corruption in the region, declaring war on the
oppressive
conventions of sexism and exploitation.
Lili Brik (1891-1978)Intimately
involved at a number of levels with the Russia’s Futurist movement of
literature and art, Lili Brik was a close personal associate of Russia’s
celebrated poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.After Mayakovsky's death, Brik penned a personal appeal to Joseph Stalin in 1935 in which she advocated
for the widespread dissemination and popularization of Mayakovsky’s works.She wrote: “…I address myself to you
because I do not see any other means to realize the tremendous revolutionary
heritage of Mayakovsky.”The
appeal was met with the approval of Stalin who famously responded, “Comrade
Brik is right: Mayakovsky was and remains the most talented poet of our Soviet
epoch.Indifference to his memory
and words is a crime.” Her memory lives on in the works of Mayakovsky and the art of Alexander Rodchenko. Further Reading:I Love: The Story of Vladimir Mayakovsky and Lili Brik(Amazon listing)
The grim news from Iran is that student and activist Ali Kantouri has been sentenced to 15 years in prison as a result of his political activities. Kantouri participated in the National Students’ Day demonstrations of December 2007 and, like a number of his fellow left activists, he was persecuted for his activities and was subsequently arrested, tortured and detained for an extended period of time over the course of the last two years.
According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Kantouri‘s sentence was issued by Branch 104 of the Sanandaj General Court and immediately prior to the pronouncement of sentencing, Ali continued to deny the charges against him. There is a chance that the sentence may be reduced or otherwise amended but there is no information regarding the likelihood of such a development.
Ali Kantouri has friends and admirers around the world. We grieve for Ali and his family and we hope that the Iranian people will ultimately unite and set right the terrible crimes committed by the theocracy and its ruling clique. These despots have systematically and methodically victimized the people of Iran for decades.
The unjust imprisonment of Ali Kantouri should serve as a stark reminder to Western Marxists -- as well as progressives and activists everywhere -- that anti-imperialism is not the sole hallmark of a worthwhile or viable political system. Political Islam is, in and of itself, overtly hostile to political opponents, workers and students, employing barbarism of the worst kind upon all those who struggle against such dogma and oppression. Ali Kantouri – like his comrades Peyman Piran and Behrouz Karimizadeh – can certainly attest to this.
A better world is possible. A better world is necessary.
It didn't take long for us to realize that we didn't want to be without a Boxer in the house. After just a few days without Domino, we decided that we wanted to go back to being a "two dog family" for everyone's sake, including that of our very grief-stricken Lhasanese, Stupsi. A few of our friends, including some fellow Boxer enthusiasts, encouraged us to "get back on the horse" as soon as we could and we took that advice to heart. We looked at a few older dogs in area shelters but we just weren't feeling the connection that we were hoping to find.
Late yesterday, I found a classified ad for a litter of 9 week-old Boxer pups. The seller was in South Charleston and she was very nice over the phone, even agreeing to hold one puppy in particular as we were very interested in him from the photo in the ad. Immediately after work, Thomai , the girls and I set out to visit South Charleston, braving the dropping temperatures, freezing rain and dark rural roads to reach the seller's home.
The lady was one of the most conscientious breeders I have ever met. She had folders prepared with documentation, medical histories and feeding instructions for each individual puppy. The parents of the litter were both present for us to meet and inspect. It was all very nice and reassuring and the fact that she was offering the pups at very "non-breeder" prices (so to speak) was even more encouraging.
In the end, we left with the very pup we had come to see. He is a handsome boy, indeed. He's a reverse-brindle Boxer with big paws and he's naturally curious but a little on the skittish side. The breeder described him as "stubborn and bull-headed but a bit of a sissy" (Those are her words, not mine). I have to admit that it will be quite funny to see our Stupsi -- a tiny little Tribble of a dog -- ultimately take her place as the dominant dog in the house, especially when this male pup grows into a full-size, muscle-bound 70+ pound brute.
We named our new guy "Dutch" (or "Dutchie") and the origin of his name is really something of a long story for another day. Stupsi has welcomed him to our family with cautious enthusiasm and we are all so excited to have Dutch with us. Of course, it's not the same as having our old girl Domino here with us, but it's a nice new beginning for everyone.
Thanks to everyone who shared words of support and encouragement.
Given the enormous human suffering brought on by the recent
disaster in Haiti, it doesn’t seem right to publicly dwell for too long on the
death of a family pet. But because
greeklish.org has been something of an "online diary" for us for such a long
time now, I wanted to mark the occasion with a few reflections on the recent
passing of our good friend Domino.
Thomai and I bought Domino as newlyweds in 1997.She was our second family pet after our
green iguana Oppie (named after J. Robert Oppenheimer) who passed away in 2002.We bought Domino from a farm in rural
Eaton and we named her after the Kiss song "Domino."I have always been proud to say that Domino’s name was
Thomai’s idea.
Domino was a huge part of our lives for 13 years.She welcomed our two daughters into the
family and she was always patient and always gentle with the kids.I think that there aren’t many dog
owners who can honestly and accurately say that their dogs never bared teeth,
growled or showed aggression in any form but this was absolutely the case with
our dog Domino.Whether it was all
those times when the girls inadvertently smacked her with toy golf clubs and
the like or it was those first few years when Thomai and I used Domino to test
out our developing “parental skills,” Domino was always understanding and
always forgiving.
When we brought Stupsi home a couple of years ago, Domino
was kind enough to welcome one more member to the family.As a rambunctious puppy, Stupsi was
awfully trying in her own right but it was great to see Domino acting as a
“mentor” of sorts to our newest four-legged addition.We lovingly called Domino our “Grand Dame” as we watched her
teach Stupsi the ropes.
She wasn't a show dog. She had a "point" on the top of her head. Her bottom front teeth looked like the salt from a big soft pretzel. Her nose was often dry and crusty. She drooled spit and sludge from her jowls and often left a trail of the stuff through the house. But Domino was made out of incredibly tough stuff.Her health problems were always minor
and we were often told by fellow boxer owners how fortunate we were to enjoy
such a long time with our beloved friend.We didn’t have to deal with a lengthy battle with cancer (boxers are
notoriously cancer prone), heart problems or hip issues.In the end, it was her 13 year-old liver
that gave out.He decline started
last Thursday and I already had a pretty good idea what we were facing by the
time I helped her into the van to go to the vet on Saturday.In addition to her lethargy and obvious
discomfort, the jaundice in her eyes signaled that she was in a bad way.
The doctor was very nice as he explained things, ending our difficult discussion
by saying that he thought that letting Domino go would be “fair.”Thomai and the girls arrived in time to
say a difficult goodbye and when they stepped out, I got a few minutes alone with
Domino.I sat on the floor with
her, wrapping my legs around her body and my arms around her neck.She rested her chin on my arm and
closed her eyes as I whispered in her ear.She had been virtually deaf for years but something about
the situation was comforting to her and for a few moments she dozed comfortably
as I spoke softly to her.The
doctor joined us and the end was fast and merciful.She fell asleep once more in my arms and I gently laid her
down for one final goodbye.
The whole situation was wonderfully materialistic in a
manner of speaking.There was no
talk of God or Heaven, no musings about religion and spirituality or the grand cosmic meanings of life and death.We were
straight with our girls about what happened and why and they are stronger surely
because of the experience and its lasting lessons.Even the doctor was very concrete in his description of how
Domino reacted in her final seconds, describing some involuntary movements as
“random electricity.”It was all consistent with how I view life and existence and thus
reaffirming and ultimately very comforting.
I sat down at the computer late Saturday afternoon and
opened up the web browser, landing on my default home page here at greeklish.org.Right there in front of me were the
words I typed just a few weeks ago:
Nothing ever truly goes away. Our favorite things,
places and people will last forever but in different shapes and forms.
It is a comfort to me that Domino will exist in our memories
and beyond for many, many years to come.Thomai and the girls struggle now and again and I have apologized many
times over the course of the last few days for all of the times my girls have had
to see me sob and cry.Stupsi is
having a hard time as well, spending hours laying near Domino’s favorite spots in
the house and periodically searching for her around the house as she softly
whimpers.
This is real life though, and there are many problems much
worse than this all around the world, every single day.We are surely fortunate that this is our
greatest of challenge at the moment just as we are fortunate to have enjoyed so
many years with such a dedicated friend.
We will always love our friend Domino.
"Suddenly... You were gone... from all the lives you
left your mark upon.” ★
Today I watched a snowflake drift to the ground and melt and
it was in this brief moment that years of reading and reflecting on materialism
and physics became clear to me:
Nothing ever truly goes away.
Our favorite things, places and people will last forever but in
different shapes and forms. After
being free of religious dogma for over two decades, it is this very realization which yields the most liberating feeling of all. (Written on 19 December 2009)
"Life, everyday practical activities,
convince us that the world exists
it is of a material nature
objectively, independently of man,
of his consciousness, sensations and desires." – O. Yakhot
Most people who know me – even in passing – know of my profound interest in Soviet and Russian history. Back in June of this year, my years of interest and study culminated in the completion of my self-published book project, Red Youth: Young Heroes of the Great Patriotic War. The book chronicles the life and martyrdom of Zoya Kosmodemyanska, one of the best-known and most loved heroines of the Soviet Union’s war against fascist Germany. Regular readers to this site know that I had a lot of help on this project and a lot of support for my efforts as well.
In the months that have followed since the initial release of the book, I have received kind words and encouragement from many different places in the world and I have shipped copies all over the United States and as far away as the Middle East and Australia. I also shipped a copy to Peyman Piran, one of the Iranian students to whom the book is dedicated. Last month, I filled a wholesale order for Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffeehouse in Baltimore and they are now selling copies online and in their store.
I am, of course, very happy to sell copies of the book to anyone with an interest in Zoya’s story. But one of the greatest honors thus far just happened this week. My friend Nina Lebed lives in Russia and she was kind enough to take a copy to the Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya Museum in Moscow. On Tuesday November 24, 2009 she presented a copy of the book to Museum Director Natalia Valentinovna who will place the book into the collection of materials at the museum.
To have this book placed upon so many important documents and exhibits related to Zoya and her brother Shura is one of the most tremendous accomplishments of my life and I am grateful to Nina and everyone else who helped to bring about this honor.
Museum Director Natalia Valentinovna holding the Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya Museum’s newly acquired copy of Red Youth.
The book will be added to this case which contains works about Zoya from around the world.
Red Youth sits atop Zoya’s primary school desk.
Closeup of Red Youth on Zoya’s desk.
Red Youth: Young Heroes of the Great Patriotic War is available for purchase through Erythrós Press and Media.
If Chris McCoy is preaching the gospel, then brothers and sisters…I’m a believer. His 2006 CD 
My interest in Indian cinema was recently rekindled when I found that an Indian/Pakistani grocery store opened less than a mile from our home. Only minutes into my first visit there, I landed an inexpensive DVD of the 1994 movie 
The New Duncan Imperials
The grim news from Iran is that student and activist 
It didn't take long for us to realize that we didn't want to be without a Boxer in the house. After just a few days without 
